Do the True You: Stop Faking It for Others and Find Out Who God Says You Are

by Steven Furtick

The New York Times bestseller Do the New You has netted over 105,000 copies since its release in February 2024, and it has continued to sell steadily. While the book is easy to read and accessible to younger audiences, it’s written with an adult reader in mind, and the stories and examples through the book talk about things like marriage, investing, and career—topics that don’t necessarily resonate with younger readers.
 
Elevation Church—both the physical locations and its online presence—skews young, and has a big following among junior high and high school students. To better reach this audience, Pastor Furtick is partnering with his three teenage children to create a teen edition of the book. The six mindsets that are the core of the book remain the same, but the content is being refreshed with new examples, language, and themes to align with the interest of teen readers. This new edition will be supported by Elevation Church and will broaden its reach and expand its readership.

272 pages, Hardcover

Published March 3, 2026

About the author

Steven Furtick is the founder and lead pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, named by Outreach magazine as one of the top 10 fastest growing churches in the nation. In four years, Elevation has grown to more than 6,000 people in regular attendance in three locations. Steven holds a degree in communication from North Greenville University, and a Master of Divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Holly, have two young sons—Elijah and Graham—and make their home in the Charlotte area.

Reviews

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️]

A powerful, motivational book that uses personal anecdotes, honest confessions, Biblical scriptures, and Godly reminders to inspire you.

I listened to this all in one day which tells you how digestible it is.

I don’t think this offers anything unique to the genre or anything particularly life-changing or inspiring. However, it offers bite-sized advice for when you need that extra push.

I would not recommend this to questioning agnostics or people curious about faith. This is for Christians who want encouragement for their daily life and in God’s love.

I listen to Steven Furtick’s sermons weekly. He is such a passionate speaker that gets me excited and fired up every time.

Obviously I’d recommend the audiobook as it is read by the author with excerpts from his children.

Audiobook arc gifted by publisher.

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[Cailin Leithead]

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much to Negalley and to the publisher for giving me a copy of the audiobook to listen to!

First ARC review! I would have rated it 2.5/3 stars if not for how it’s redundant. He said the same things in 5 different ways pretty much all the time and repeated a lot of the same phrases every chapter. Some of them had distinct meanings but it still felt very long. Otherwise, it had some great messaging and functions as a good self-help book for everyone-especially Christian’s-and included Biblical stories and passages which I loved because I didn’t know some of the stories and I enjoyed hearing them broken down in a way that was easy to understand. It also included some pop culture references which helped the reader connect a bit more. I loved how easy-going the author was and how kind he was in his delivery of these messages. A lot of them were very kind messaging in general, but still. I really loved that he had his kids share stories, anecdotes, or messaging, and it helped make the book easier for a YA audience, which is who the book is written for.

I would recommend it to Christians struggling with their self-image or mental health issues or people new to Christianity, because it has some good messages and Biblical stories in it to familiarize yourself with.

[Breanna]

I’m often skeptical of nonfiction—especially Christian or self-help books—because they can feel agenda-driven, repetitive, or overly preachy. Still, I’m always searching for the ones I can confidently recommend to others, especially young people. Occasionally, one truly lands.

This one did.

This is an adaptation of Steven Furtick’s Do the New You, written specifically for youth and enriched by stories from his own children as they apply the book’s six principles in real life.

The supporting scripture never feels forced; it provides security rather than pressure. The principles themselves are simple but meaningful—practical enough to apply immediately, yet foundational enough to return to throughout life, regardless of age.

I have children in middle school, high school, and college, and I took pages of notes for myself while reading. I think it would make an excellent family book study or a series of dinner-table conversations.

This will likely resonate most with those who already have some exposure to Christianity—youth group, church, or basic familiarity with scripture—since it assumes a relationship with God and the belief that we were created with purpose. The tone is accepting and encouraging without feeling diluted. And it honestly acknowledges the daily tension between fear and faith, reminding readers to focus on simply doing the next faithful thing.

If you were to carry that into your daily rhythm, you might even notice it becoming a kind of internal compass:
What’s the next right thing here?
What’s the smallest faithful step I can take?

This one is easily going on my list of top Christian recommendations—and probably onto my own kitchen table as well.

ARC provided by the publisher FaithWords.

[Nikki]

Finding the Real You: A Guide for All Ages (Audiobook Review)

In a world that constantly pressures us to fit in, Steven Furtick's Do the True You is a refreshing and essential guide to discovering and embracing the person God created you to be. With a message that is both powerful and accessible, this book, particularly in its audiobook format, is a standout resource that is great for teens and adults alike.

The core message of the book is a call to authenticity. Furtick, a New York Times bestselling author, challenges the exhausting and unfulfilling effort of "faking it"—trying to be who others expect you to be. Instead, he encourages listeners to find their true identity in who God says they are. This journey from a "fake you" to a faith-filled you is at the heart of the book and provides a clear path for anyone feeling lost or inadequate.

Listening to Steven Furtick narrate his own work adds an incredible dimension to the experience. As a renowned pastor and speaker, his passionate and engaging delivery brings the material to life, making the powerful messages even more impactful. His vocal inflections and emphasis truly underscore the book's core truths, making it feel less like a lecture and more like a personal, encouraging conversation. This direct connection through his voice makes the concepts deeply resonant and easy to absorb, whether you're listening during a commute, a workout, or quiet time.
What makes Do the True You particularly effective is its practical approach. The book is built around six powerful mindsets that are easy to remember and apply to daily life. These include transformative truths like, "I'm not stuck unless I stop," and "Christ is in me. I am enough." Furtick’s writing is conversational and relatable, filled with personal stories and biblical wisdom that make the concepts tangible and inspiring.

This book is perfect for its intended audience of young adults but has a message that will resonate with anyone seeking to live a more authentic life. It's an empowering reminder that you don't have to have it all figured out. Instead, it invites you to trust in God's vision for your life and to bravely step into the "true you" that He has known all along.
For a book that is both spiritually deep and incredibly practical, look no further than Do the True You. Especially in its audiobook format, it's an encouraging and life-changing listen that will equip you to stop pretending and start living in the freedom of your God-given identity.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Do the True You: Stop Faking It for Others and Find Out Who God Says You Are by Steven Furtick
Narrated by Steven Furtick; Elijah Furtick; Graham Furtick; Abbey Furtick
Publisher: Hachette Audio | FaithWords
Genre: Christian | Self-Help
Published: March 3, 2026

[Andrew]

Steven Furtick has written a new book encompassing about the importance of being your authentic self and not settling for what you have always known. We don’t need to be critical of ourselves or saying that we are a depressed person, shy, dumb, or not enough. These label often trap us into a negative cycle. He encouraged readers to be the true you instead. We can be the person God created us to be. This book was written to guide young teens and adults into seeing ourselves like God sees us and align our vision with His. The book also shared insights and personal stories from his children Elijah, Abbey, and Graham to assist other teens that may one dealing with the same challenges that they are.


He stated how Jeremiah was called to be a prophet. But at the start of it he was just a young teen. God reminded him that He created and formed him in his mother’s womb. He was seeing himself as too introverted, too weak, too young, and was too afraid to step out. God reminded him that he knew him before. God was trying to teach him to see him as He sees him.


Steven goes on to helping readers to see how God knew us in the beginning and it was our true you. He stated how we need to see ourselves free from depression, us filled with peace no matter what happens to us, and overcoming bad habits and obtaining freedom. He shared mindsets that we can all live by throughout the chapters. These included, “I’m not stuck unless I stop, Christ is in me. I am enough, God has given me everything I need for the season I’m in”, and much more.


One of my favorite lesson discussed do we really know and understand our worth. Are we valuing ourselves? Looking in the Bible we will discover our worth and how much God loves us. The Holy Spirit lives inside us. We are more than a conqueror. We have the mind of Christ. We are chosen and called.


I would recommend this book mainly to any teenager or young adult but any age could benefit and learn more about being the true you. A lot of us struggle with our true identity and living in our authentic self. I thought this book was unique in also sharing lessons from his own children and what they have went through and learned growing up. I believe this will help other teens to realize that their struggles aren’t so much different. It helped to see their experience with their own identity and struggles with being who God created them to be.

[Angelica]

Do the True You really spoke to me. Although this book/audiobook is geared toward teens, it’s just as inspiring and impactful for adults and parents alike. We all need reminders to embrace who we are and step into the person God has called us to be. The true YOU is the person God created you to be—and this book encourages you to fully embrace that identity.

One of my favorite parts of the audiobook was Steven Furtick’s delivery. He’s enthusiastic, genuine, and incredibly relatable. It never feels like he’s simply reading from a script. Instead, it feels like listening to a friend who’s giving you a heartfelt pep talk mixed with wise, practical advice. His energy keeps you engaged, while his clear flow makes it easy to follow when one idea ends and another begins.

Another standout aspect was the inclusion of Steven Furtick’s children sharing their own experiences and how these principles helped them navigate difficult moments. While teens don’t always love advice coming from parents or adults, hearing similar-aged voices share real struggles and growth makes the message far more compelling and relatable.

If you have a teen, preteen, or young adult in your life, this is an incredible resource to help them build confidence, embrace who God has called them to be, and face life’s challenges with courage. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up!

#DotheTrueYou #NetGalley

[Shari Summers]

I’ve long appreciated the teachings of Steven Furtick, so when I learned he had rewritten Do the New You specifically for teens and young adults in Do the True You, I was curious to see how the message would translate to a younger audience.

This book centers on six mindsets designed to help young readers move from who they feel they are right now to who God is shaping them to become. What I appreciate most is that the message isn’t about reinventing yourself to meet other people’s expectations. Instead, Furtick encourages readers to discover the identity God already placed inside them and grow into that version of themselves.

The tone is encouraging and relatable, especially for teens who may feel pressure to fit in or wonder if they’re ever truly “enough.” Rather than offering vague inspiration, the book provides practical perspectives that help readers rethink how they see themselves and their purpose.

Do the True You is a meaningful read for young people navigating identity, purpose, and faith, reminding them that God didn’t design them to copy someone else—He created them with intention.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Shelley Marushak Langelaar]

I am not the target audience for this book and I realized that shortly after starting the first chapter. Due to not being the target audience I put on a different hat (and looked at it with a different perspective) while continuing to move through it. As a counselor (for 30 plus years) I was able to see the value of this teaching — mostly for youth and young adults - but also for new Christians entering into the faith. I loved that he brought his children in to share their perspectives. It was informative as well as encouraging.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this copy. All opinions are my own

[Blessing Okwuofu]

In a world where, in a bid to overcome the pressure of trying to be someone else to fit in, we are told to "do you", Steven Furtick comes with a different dimension - do you but the you God created you to be, with the vision, talents and gifts He has given you. On the journey to the "true you", the author discusses several mindsets we must have about God's plan for our lives. Great insights in this book.
I got the ARC from FaithWords via Netgalley. This is my honest review

[Debby]

This was such a great read! I will definitely be picking it up again in the future. So fun, engaging, educative and uplifting.